MADISON—Today, Julie Underwood, Lester Pines, and Jeff Mandell – three esteemed members of Dane County’s legal community – have announced their endorsement of Judge Ben Jones for election to a full term in Dane County Circuit Court, Branch 1.
Julie Underwood is an education leader and attorney, former Professor and Dean of the UW-Madison School of Education, co-founder of the Wisconsin Public Education Network, and a nationally-recognized leader and advocate.
Lester Pines is a retired Wisconsin attorney, with decades of experience in high-profile civil, criminal, and appellate cases. Pines has represented Madison’s teachers’ union, SEIU Wisconsin, Planned Parenthood, the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA) and the Office & Professional Employees Union, Local 39 (OPEIU).
Jeff Mandell has a broad legal practice with specialties in election and democracy law. He co-founded and now leads Law Forward, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization focused on defending and advancing democracy in Wisconsin. Among other cases, Law Forward spearheaded the successful fight to overturn Wisconsin’s gerrymandered voting maps, filed the nation’s only civil suit against the 2020 fraudulent electors, and has litigated many suits to protect and expand voting rights for all Wisconsinites.
Underwood, Pines, and Mandell join a growing array of community leaders that have endorsed Judge Ben Jones to continue serving the people of Dane County. The full list of endorsers includes Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Susan Crawford, Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, legislators, and Dane County Circuit Court Judges. See the full list of endorsements at https://judgebenjones.com/endorsements.
“Judge Ben Jones exemplifies the integrity, fairness, and respect for the rule of law that our courts require,” said Julie Underwood. “His experience and judgment give me confidence that he will continue to serve Dane County with independence and care.”
“Judge Ben Jones brings exactly what our courts most need right now: integrity, experience, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law,” said Jeff Mandell. “His record reflects a deep respect for constitutional principles and equal justice, and Wisconsinites can trust that he will approach every case with independence and fairness.”
“I’m honored to have the support of Julie Underwood, Lester Pines, and Jeff Mandell—respected legal leaders who have dedicated their careers to upholding the rule of law and protecting the integrity of our courts,” said Judge Ben Jones. “Their endorsement means a great deal to me.”
A longtime champion for the rights of kids and inclusion in education, Judge Jones was appointed to the bench by Governor Tony Evers earlier this year, following a comprehensive merit-driven selection process. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge Jones built an impressive record as an attorney in private practice, and then was chief legal counsel at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), the state’s education agency.
Jones distinguished himself at DPI as the leader developing legal frameworks for providing education during the COVID crisis. He was also the architect of a legal strategy to protect children’s rights, especially as the Trump Administration has tried to undermine protections secured through generations of advocacy – especially for LGBTQ+ kids.
Judge Jones lives in Monona with his wife and two sons, and is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and UW Law School.
The general election will be April 7, 2026, with a primary election to be held February 17.
